HUANGPU SHANGHAI

Pakistani merchant Nazar Karim Ali in Tashikurgan Tajik autonomous county in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, said the county has made him feel at home for the last 32 years.

He said as he shares the same culture and language with local people, it's easy to adapt to society.

"We are the second generation of businessmen. First of all, my father and uncle had a silk business in China from 1989 to 1992," he said.

Karim sells gemstones, jewelry, blankets, cotton bed sheets, clothes and handicrafts from Pakistan. The number of tourists saw significant growth after China adjusted its COVID-19 epidemic control measures, and his business is recovering quickly.

Nazar Karim Ali of Pakistan has been doing business in Tashikurgan Tajik autonomous county of Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, for the last 32 years. [Photo/Chen Meiling]

He said many policies related to the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor make it easy for Pakistani to do business in China.

"Chinese people come to Pakistan for investment. It's a good opportunity for the Chinese and also benefits the Pakistanis," he said.

Tashikurgan Tajik autonomous county borders Pakistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Although its population is only 41,000, many foreign traders cross the borders for export and import business.